Cigarette sales have decreased in the past decade, and at The Gentle Art of Dentistry in Houston we won’t kid you: we’re happy about that. But some people have switched to smokeless products, on the assumption that smokeless tobacco is harmless.
This is absolutely not true. No matter its form, tobacco is dangerous stuff.
We encounter the consequences of smokeless tobacco use because many occur in the mouth. Oral cancer, mouth lesions, gum disease and tooth decay are the most common dental problems caused by smokeless tobacco.
Keeping a pinch between your cheek and gum all day is a bad idea, period. Tobacco erodes the teeth and also causes the gums to pull away from teeth.
Smokeless tobacco increases the risk for several types of life-threatening cancers including those of the mouth, gums, lips, tongue, and throat. Oral cancers can be as deadly as lung cancer and usually require surgery.
These are the main dental risks of smokeless tobacco. In addition, there are two other biggies: addiction and heart disease, though those are topics for another day.
If you have any concerns about the state of your oral health, be sure to talk to us about it at The Gentle Art of Dentistry in Houston. Patients from East Spring, West Cypress, and Klein come to our office for general and cosmetic dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment today!
Contact The Gentle Art of Dentistry:
281-469-8026
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
102 Vintage Park Blvd, Suite D
Houston, Texas
77070